All sports, including rugby, can be a really positive and fun experience for children. Scottish Rugby is committed to ensuring that all children feel safe, enjoy their rugby and are protected from harm. We recognise that all adults involved in the coaching or supervision of children have a duty to safeguard their welfare. This duty extends to the prevention of physical, sexual or emotional abuse of any child and will be applied regardless of a child’s gender, race, religion, sexuality or disability.

Child protection in sport is not just about protecting children from others who may seek to harm them. A trusted coach or leader may be the person a child chooses to tell about something that is happening at home or outside sport. In either case, we all have a responsibility to act on concerns.

Child protection and wellbeing covers many areas – away trips, social media, recruitment of volunteers are just a few examples. See our 'Advice for clubs' section for a range of guidance documents.

Please refer to our 'Report a concern'page for advice and guidance on what to do if you have a concern about a child or young person, or someone working or volunteering within the sport. If you are concerned about the immediate safety of a child please contact Police Scotland - call 101 or 999.

For any queries, advice or guidance, please don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected] or call us on 0131 346 5000 and ask to speak to the Child Protection Team.